Save Gender Feminine Usage Spanish (Latin American, Rare), Portuguese (Brazilian, Rare), Italian (Rare), French (Quebec, Rare, Archaic), English (American, Rare, Archaic) Pronounced Pron. ro-SAL-ma(Spanish) ro-ZOW-mu(Brazilian Portuguese) ro-ZAL-ma(Italian) RO-ZAL-MA(French) [key·IPA] Meaning & History Combination of Rosa 1 (or Rose) and Alma 1.Regarding its archaic usage in the United States, it was mostly concetrated in Massachusetts, the majority of whom bore French surnames.